Data Collection Improvements for Commercial and For-Hire (Charter) Fishermen
Council members continued to develop management alternatives to improve the collection of data from both commercial and for-hire fishermen through the Comprehensive Ecosystem-Based Amendment 3. The amendment currently includes measures that increase the frequency of reporting by charter and headboat fishermen and provides for the use of electronic logbooks. The for-hire sector contributes to recreational landings that count towards the recreational ACL. Improved data reporting could reduce the chance that ACLs are exceeded and accountability measures are triggered. The amendment also includes measures to improve commercial logbook reporting, use of vessel monitoring systems, and improvements in bycatch reporting. The Council will address the amendment again during its December meeting in North Carolina.